“Princess Consort, this is a visiting card from Prince Qi’s mansion,” said Nanny Ji.
Jiang Si took the exquisite gilt-printed card from Nanny Ji’s hand, glanced at it briefly, then tossed it onto the table, uttering two words: “Don’t see.”
Nanny Ji frowned.
The Princess Consort’s refusal was perhaps too quick and decisive.
As the mistress of Prince Yan’s household, managing the mansion’s affairs and maintaining social relationships with various households in the capital was her duty. Princess Consort Qi’s visit to her pregnant sister-in-law was perfectly reasonable. How could she refuse so abruptly?
Willful, the Princess Consort was truly too willful.
Glancing at Jiang Si’s still-flat belly, Nanny Ji sighed inwardly.
There was no help for it; one couldn’t upset a pregnant woman. If she didn’t want to see visitors, so be it.
“Princess Consort Yan is unwell and unable to receive guests?” Upon receiving the reply, Princess Consort Qi felt dejected.
Princess Consort Yan’s refusal was so direct, and the reason given was so perfunctory.
What indisposition? She was already over three months pregnant, and the early discomforts should have passed. Such a response clearly showed she had no desire to interact.
This Princess Consort Yan was truly impenetrable.
Since becoming pregnant, Jiang Si hadn’t left Prince Yan’s mansion. Princess Consort Qi couldn’t even see her, let alone build a friendship.
Princess Consort Qi had no choice but to visit Princess Consort Lu and Princess Consort Shu. With Prince Qi refusing visitors, the Qi mansion became quiet for a time.
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingming hadn’t changed the storybooks hidden in his secret compartment for a long time.
Since deposing the Crown Prince, he no longer had the leisurely mood to read storybooks.
Although the ministers hadn’t mentioned it yet, he could see the urge to press him to appoint a new Crown Prince in their restless eyes.
But he didn’t want to.
It wasn’t that he still held hope for the deposed Crown Prince, but the thought of suddenly replacing so many years of the Crown Prince’s position with another son gave him a feeling of unacceptability.
Walking outside the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingming leaned against the railing and looked up at the sky.
There were no stars or moon in the sky, just like his empty mood at that moment.
“Su Yue, I’ve deposed Lang’er. Are you blaming me?” Emperor Jingming murmured, his voice so soft only he could hear it.
No one answered his question, but Emperor Jingming knew well that he could have at most one peaceful year. By next spring, those ministers would start pressuring him to appoint a new Crown Prince.
Well, at least he could have some peace for these two months.
Light footsteps approached, but Emperor Jingming didn’t turn around.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you going to rest?” Pan Hai asked softly.
Emperor Jingming turned, half his face cast in shadow: “Any movement outside the palace?”
Pan Hai hesitated, unsure where to begin.
“I hear there’s a constant stream of visitors to Prince Jin’s mansion?”
Pan Hai didn’t dare respond.
“What about Prince Qi?”
“Prince Qi has been refusing visitors for days.”
Emperor Jingming’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this.
Fourth Son had always been fraternal and respectful, which was good. It’s just a pity that in terms of status, he still couldn’t compare to Third Son…
Pulling back his thoughts, Emperor Jingming changed the subject: “What about inside the palace? Have you found out anything about the people behind Beauty Chen and Noble Consort Yang?”
There was no precedent for the Eastern Depot to secretly investigate the inner palace, but Emperor Jingming had made an exception.
Although Zhen Shicheng had only speculated, he chose to believe it.
That person must be rooted out.
Pan Hai looked ashamed: “We have no leads yet. We haven’t found anything unusual about the people who frequently associated with Beauty Chen and Noble Consort Yang.”
Since it was a secret investigation, they couldn’t alarm their targets. But if this person could influence Beauty Chen and Noble Consort Yang, they might have been in the palace for a long time. It wouldn’t be easy to uncover clues quickly.
Emperor Jingming naturally understood this and had no intention of blaming Pan Hai. He just thought of Yu Jin again.
Perhaps he should call Seventh Son to try?
But he didn’t want Seventh Son to know about the Crown Prince and Noble Consort Yang’s affair…
Emperor Jingming became conflicted.
“Your Majesty, it’s late. You should rest,” Pan Hai advised.
Emperor Jingming nodded, his voice weary: “Mm.”
He’d wait and see for now. Perhaps if he gave Pan Hai more time, he might uncover some clues.
Emperor Jingming’s much-desired peaceful days were shattered the very next day at court.
A censor impeached Zhen Shicheng.
“Your Majesty, Prefect Zhen Shicheng of Shuntian Prefecture discovered that Prince Jing instigated the Imperial Guards to kill Prince An for a courtesan from the Jinshui River. But this humble official has heard that the courtesan didn’t even know Prince An… This official believes Zhen Shicheng has erred in his judgment. As this concerns the position of Crown Prince, I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!”
Emperor Jingming’s temple throbbed as he listened.
Investigate thoroughly. How could he announce to the world that the Crown Prince had an affair with a palace consort?
The meddlesome censor was undoubtedly severely reprimanded.
Looking at the ministers with their varied expressions, Emperor Jingming realized that it seemed some people still couldn’t accept the fact that the Crown Prince had been deposed.
With people’s hearts unsettled, harboring illusions about the deposed Crown Prince was not a good thing.
Emperor Jingming pondered briefly, then asked: “Who was the Imperial Guard who subdued the assassin and saved Official Zhen that day?”
He remembered it was Seventh Son’s brother-in-law, a handsome young man.
Someone immediately replied: “In response to Your Majesty, that Imperial Guard is the son of the Earl of Dongping.”
“Summon him to the hall.”
Jiang Zhan happened to be on duty and was soon led into the great hall by a eunuch.
This was Jiang Zhan’s first time in such a setting, but being naturally bold and not overly concerned with hierarchy, he appeared composed.
Emperor Jingming observed the young man, straight as a white poplar, giving him a proper greeting, and nodding inwardly.
No wonder he was Seventh Son’s wife’s brother; he was indeed a fine young man.
“It was chaotic that day, and I haven’t had a chance to address it since, but I’ve kept your merit in mind,” Emperor Jingming said in a gentle tone, asking Jiang Zhan, “Jiang Er, tell me what reward you’d like?”
If someone was impeaching Zhen Shicheng, then he would properly commend the person who protected Zhen Shicheng, to make those people think twice before acting rashly.
Jiang Zhan looked up, his eyes brightening: “Your Majesty wants to reward this humble official?”
The assembled ministers nearly fell over.
To so eagerly seek a reward from the Emperor, this was truly a first for them to witness.
This second son of the Earl of Dongping was indeed his father’s son.
Emperor Jingming, on the contrary, rather appreciated Jiang Zhan’s frankness and smiled: “Indeed, merit deserves reward, just as fault deserves punishment. As long as your request is reasonable, I’ll grant it.”
As the Princess Consort’s brother, even without his meritorious deed, it would be natural to promote him from a common guard to a slightly higher position.
Thinking this way, Emperor Jingming’s favorable impression of Jiang Si deepened further.
Not desperately helping her father and brothers gain promotions and wealth upon rising to power, she was a good one.
Jiang Zhan’s gaze was bright as he looked eagerly at Emperor Jingming: “Your Majesty, could this humble official be sent to the southern frontier or the northern territories as a common soldier?”
Emperor Jingming thought he had misheard and sat up straight, asking again: “What did you say?”
Jiang Zhan spoke clearly: “This humble official wishes to go to the southern frontier or northern territories as a common soldier, to protect our Great Zhou’s borders.”
Hearing the young man’s resolute and eager request, Emperor Jingming felt strangely moved, but said: “Nonsense!”